Cooling device comprising an improved cold finger

Abstract

The detection device comprises a cold finger which performs thermal connection between a detector fitted on a cooling plate and a cooling system. The cold finger comprises at least one side wall at least partially formed by an area made from the hafnium-based amorphous metal alloy. Advantageously, the whole of the cold finger is made from the hafnium-based amorphous metal alloy.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Cooling device comprising:
 a cooling plate, 
 a cooling system provided with a cooling fluid, 
 a hollow cold finger closed at one end by the cooling plate, the cooling fluid being located in the cold finger to cool the cooling plate, the cold finger comprising at least one side wall defining a confinement channel of the cooling fluid from the cooling system, 
 
       wherein:
 said at least one side wall is at least partially formed by an area made from an at least partially amorphous metal alloy, 
 the area made from the at least partially amorphous metal alloy is formed by an at least ternary alloy containing at least 17.5% in atomic % of hafnium and possibly of copper with a maximum content equal to 40% in atomic % of copper so as to form a thermal insulator. 
 
     
     
       2. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy contains at least 20% in atomic % of hafnium. 
     
     
       3. Cooling device according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy contains at least 30% in atomic % of hafnium. 
     
     
       4. Cooling device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy contains at least 40% in atomic % of hafnium. 
     
     
       5. Cooling device according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy contains at least 50% in atomic % of hafnium. 
     
     
       6. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy contains zirconium and wherein the total content of hafnium and zirconium is less than or equal to 70% in atomic %. 
     
     
       7. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy contains zirconium and wherein the total content of hafnium and zirconium is greater than the content of any other element of the at least partially amorphous metal alloy. 
     
     
       8. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy contains copper and wherein the copper content is less than the total content of hafnium and of zirconium if applicable. 
     
     
       9. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy is chosen from alloys of Hf 52.5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5 , Hf 35 Zr 17.5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5 , Hf 17.5 Zr 35 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5  and Hf 26.25 Zr 26.25 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5 . 
     
     
       10. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy is chosen from alloys of ((Hf x Zr 1-x ) 52.5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5 ) 100-y M y  with x varying between 0.1 and 1, y varying between 0 and 3 and M chosen from Nb, Co, Ag, B, Si, C, Sn, Y Cr, Mn, Fe, Ga, Ge, Mo, Ta and W, (Hf x Zr 1-x ) 57 Cu 20 Ni 8 Al 10 Ti 5  with x varying between 0.1 and 1 and (Hf 55-x Cu 30 Ni 15 ) 100-y Ti x Al y  with x equal to 0 or 5 and y equal to 0 or 10. 
     
     
       11. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least partially amorphous metal alloy is chosen from Hf 62 Ni 25 Al 13 , Hf 60 Ni 25 Al 15 , Hf 58 Ni 25 Al 17 , Hf 55 Ni 25 Al 20 , Hf 53 Ni 25 Al 22 , Hf 50 Ni 25 Al 25 , Hf 51 Cu 27.75 Ni 9.25 Al 12 , Hf 48 Cu 29.25 Ni 9.75 Al 13 , Hf 47 Cu 29.25 Ni 9.75 Al 14 , Hf 49 Ta 2 Cu 27.75 Ni 9.25 Al 12 , Hf 46 Nb 2 Cu 29.25 Ni 9.75 Al 13 , Hf 45.5 Cu 27.8 Ni 9.3 Ti 5 Al 12.4  and Hf 44.5 Cu 27 Ni 13.5 Al 10 Ti 5 . 
     
     
       12. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the area made from the at least partially amorphous metal alloy forms a ring completely separating the cooling system and the cooling plate. 
     
     
       13. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall is completely formed by the at least partially amorphous metal alloy so as to connect the cooling system and the cooling plate. 
     
     
       14. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein a photodetector is connected to the cooling plate. 
     
     
       15. Cooling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cold finger is in an inert atmosphere.